Avatar: The Way of Water has been in the works for six years, but the film is now nearing completion and will soon be released in theaters worldwide. The film’s post-production, which began in 2020 after filming concluded, has been completed, producer Jon Landau (who also produced the original 2009 picture) said today via social media.

Landau shared a shot of himself and the film’s enormous post-production crew in the holiday mood, all of whom can be seen beaming and pumping their fists to celebrate their hard work paying off. James Cameron, the film’s director, is pictured here celebrating with a large bottle of champagne. Landau congratulated everyone involved with “Avatar: The Way of Water” by writing, “Congratulations to the entire Avatar: The Way of Water family” in the photo’s caption. “I took this photo of the post-production crew yesterday after we had finished the final mix and picture mastering. To everyone who helped make this movie possible, thank you.”

Oscar-winning director and close Cameron friend Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Cabinet of Curiosities) also gave the crew high marks. Del Toro responded to Landau’s post by praising the sequel as “an unbelievable feat” consisting of “epic, epic-scale breathtaking vistas and emotions.” A guru at the pinnacle of his abilities.”

The groundbreaking use of technology, especially 3D, that Avatar offered moviegoers when the film was released nearly 13 years ago made it an instant classic. Cameron won three Academy Awards, including one for Best Cinematography, for his expert depiction of Pandora, the paradisiacal moon of an alien planet. The original film set a high bar for sequels to follow, and with a larger budget and more time spent on filming the sequel, high hopes have been placed in The Way of Water.

The movie’s teasers and behind-the-scenes footage have already promised an enjoyable experience, so audiences are eager to see the finished product on December 16. Ten years after the events of Avatar, the story continues in The Way of Water, which explores family dynamics in the face of an impending war that threatens their survival. Now that Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) have become parents, they must draw on their newly acquired parental instincts to protect their genetic legacy and ultimately triumph over their implacable foe.

Veteran actors such as Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, and Dileep Rao will all reprise their roles in The Way of Water. More A-listers like Kate Winslet, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin, Vin Diesel, and others will join the cast now that we’ll meet a new tribe: the reef-dwelling Metkayina. Cameron and his team have an uphill battle if they want the sequel to be as financially successful as the first. The film has been given a coveted release in China. A recent study by cinema ticketing website Fandango found that it is the most anticipated film of all time among members of Generation Z.

A limited number of tickets to the sequel are now on sale. On December 16, The Way of Water will be released in the United States, Canada, and China.